As I posted on Audrey Gleave's thread just before the holiday, I've been watching a number of reality crime shows lately -- especially cold cases; while the number of unsolved murders is depressing, it's heartening to see how many of these are cracked, if many years later, either by technological advancements related to evidence OR by a simple tip or seemingly casual detail given by the public, often but not only when "fresh eyes" in LE review witness statements or (re-)interview anew. I won't give examples but there are many where some seemingly minute detail from a witness's recollection actually propels LE in a new direction to explore and eventually build and close the case. (There are also, of course, as we all know, many examples of folks coming forward later with significant info because a relationship has ended, they have developed less or more fear in relation to the perp, they may have more economic or other security to make disclosure easier, they may have concerns for their kids or other family members, may be ill or facing their own mortality, their conscience may simply make it impossible to remain quiet any longer, etc. So they finally tell what they know, which could have brought justice sometimes decades earlier.... Clearly this is different than feeling uncertain about whether info you have can be helpful or not.) Anyway. I know there are some uber-obvious questions/details related to Sonia's case (sorry for how facile these may appear below) as in many crimes: did someone in the area, close to the area, or who knew the area and/or who knew Sonia, or of her, or who could have had some contact with her or been watching her, perhaps buy new (size 10 or 11) boots after the murder/have a pair "disappear" ? Were they regular shoppers at Mark's WW? Were they seen cleaning their car/clothes shortly after the murder - and something struck you about that at the time? Were they, as LE originally intimated, familiar with the rural roads in Caledon (Beechgrove Rd area) either because of "recreation, occupation or illegal activities" (
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/nurse-s-rare-murder-pored-over-at-summit-1.890183) where Sonia was found? Is there some question as to their whereabouts on the eve, night, and/or early morn of Aug 30/31 2010? Etc. Of course I know a yes to any/all of these Qs does not a murderer make!! It might perhaps rather be a lingering sense that something is "off" when reflecting on these normal things that's salient. I'm not sure I wholly believe in intuition or what "trusting your gut" actually invokes. But many folks talk about how what they "feel" as a sense rather than what they "know" by reason (of course, I think those two things are inextricable)....
So perhaps more importantly: what are the LESS obvious details/questions that could be substantively meaningful in the case? Often we can't know (especially with the "holdback" info LE might keep. We don't even know the murder weapon / exactly Sonia's manner of death.) So how might small details we might have help if we don't KNOW they have some connection? Hmmmm. Is there something small you keep thinking about, that "niggles"? It might not matter why. On Audrey's thread I posted v. briefly about one terrible murder case (it involved a family killed while camping) where a woman wanted to tell police she knew of a man who had inquired about how to sell a van with a bullet hole in it. Her husband wasn't sure the info was relevant. She reminded him of the detail just before LE left their house after a re-invigorated door-to-door canvas.... It turns out that was the single detail that led LE in the direction of a suspect who may otherwise never have been on the radar -- and they were able to build a case, and conviction, from there.
I guess the instruction we have is that if there is some bit of info or detail you keep coming back to -- or forgot, but it reappears to you -- CALL IT IN.
LE will sort if it's useful info or not. The sheer number of tips, and sorting/assessing what is ir/relevant, must be a remarkably daunting task for police, I know. Sometimes it simply comes down to a combo of skill, perseverance, and coincidence/luck....
From CTV News Aug 2021
"
'Someone has the key' to solving brutal murder of Ontario nurse 11 years ago
Quote:
"Investigators continue to seek the one piece of information that will lead to an arrest," the Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Monday. "Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact the OPP."
"Eleven years later, someone has the key."
Unquote.
